The fourth phase of Stage One in the hostage deal concluded Saturday afternoon with the joyful release of Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, and Keith Samuel Siegel.
Ofer Kalderon arrived at Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre at noon after reuniting with his children – two of whom, Erez and Sahar, were held captive and released in the previous deal in 2023. "It's over, Dad. You're with us now," they told him through laughter and tears of emotion.
Video: Ofer Kalderon unites with his family / GPO/Omer Meiron
On Oct. 7, Ofer Kalderon (54) and his two children, Sahar and Erez, were in their home in Nir-Oz. When Hamas terrorists attacked the community, they escaped through their safe room window and hid for hours in the bushes. When spotted by the terrorists, they began to run and became separated, but ultimately all three were taken to Gaza.
His two other children managed to avoid being kidnapped. In their emotional reunion, Ofer and his children had some banter, saying that the bush he had hit behind was not good enough, but his child Rotem who successfully avoided captured was a "true bastard." He told him, jokingly, "I heard you ran away...you were always good at Hide and Seek."
In November 2023, Ofer celebrated his birthday, and his gift was the return of his two captive children from Gaza. He himself was forced to remain behind in an oxygen-deprived, dark tunnel – frightened, exposed to hunger and abuse.
